The hand mirror did exist, and my father had mentioned it once in passing when I was younger. I'd always thought his words were just a way to keep a bored kid entertained. But now, weaving a half-truth into a story for the others, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.
"Haunted mirror," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. The absurdity of it made me smile, though a small part of me wondered—what if there was more to it?
Pushing the thought aside, I reached my classroom. Sliding the door open, I stepped inside to find only a handful of people scattered across the room. Some were resting their heads on their desks, others quietly chatting in small groups. The air was calm, a stark contrast to the usual energy before classes.
I made my way to my desk near the window, dropping into the chair with a quiet sigh. It was nice, this brief lull in the day. The faint warmth of the afternoon sun filtered through the glass, casting soft shadows on the floor.
Propping my chin on my hand, I gazed outside at the school grounds. The leaves were sparse now, bare branches swaying gently in the cool breeze. Winter was creeping in, slow and steady.
The quiet wrapped around me like a blanket, and for a moment, I allowed myself to relax. These small, unremarkable moments were my favorite—nothing happening, no expectations, just time to think.
I idly tapped my pen against the desk, my mind drifting back to the student council room and the others' reactions to the story. Aoi's enthusiasm, Riku's teasing, Mayu's quiet exasperation... they all had their quirks, but somehow it worked.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they came to the shop, I thought. At least it'll make things a little more interesting.
The classroom stayed quiet, the faint sounds of distant voices in the hallway serving as background noise. I closed my eyes for a moment, enjoying the stillness before the day inevitably picked up pace again.
Prang!
The sudden crash jolted me out of my thoughts. My eyes darted to the source of the sound—a mirror shattered across the floor near me. For a moment, my heart raced, a strange coincidence considering I'd just been thinking about mirrors.
Standing beside the mess was Sakura Morita, her face a mix of frustration and resignation.
"Ahhh, it's destroyed," she muttered, staring at the broken pieces.
I quickly got up and bent down to help. "That's unfortunate, Sakura-san."
She sighed, crouching beside me. "Ahhh, it really is... I just borrowed it from home, too."
As I gathered the scattered shards, one piece caught my attention. I reached for it, carefully picking it up, but as my thumb brushed its surface, a strange sensation coursed through me.
It felt... empty. Not hollow, but as if my thumb had slipped into something beyond the glass—a void. I froze for a split second, staring at the shard in my hand.
What was that?
I blinked, shaking off the thought. No way. I'm awake. It's just my imagination. Still, a faint unease lingered as I continued picking up the shards.
"Should I put these in the trash?" I asked, holding the collected pieces in my hands.
"Oh, don't worry, Hikaru-san, I'll do it myself," she said, reaching out to take them.
"Let me help you," I insisted, keeping the glass in my hands. "These are sharp—you might hurt yourself."
Her hand hesitated mid-air, and she gave me a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Hikaru-san. That's kind of you."
I nodded, carefully placing the shards into an empty box she had brought along. But as I handed over the last piece, I couldn't shake the strange feeling from before—the moment my thumb had touched the glass. It was almost as if the mirror wasn't entirely... broken.
With the shards of the mirror safely contained in the box, Sakura and I headed out of the classroom together, making our way to the schoolyard where the larger trash bins were kept. The crisp afternoon air greeted us as we stepped outside, a gentle breeze rustling the trees.
I glanced over at her, curiosity getting the better of me. "So, how'd the mirror fall in the first place?"
Sakura adjusted her grip on the box and let out a sheepish laugh. "Ah, well, it's kind of embarrassing," she admitted, raising a hand to point at her glasses. "I was trying to fix these. They're a bit crooked, and when I adjusted them, I accidentally knocked the mirror off the desk."
I looked at her glasses, noticing the slight tilt in one of the arms. It wasn't anything too noticeable, but once she pointed it out, it was hard to unsee.
"Looks like they've been through a lot," I said with a small smile.
She sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, they've been like this for a while. I keep meaning to get them fixed, but I just haven't had the time."
"Maybe it's a sign you should finally take care of it," I teased lightly.
She laughed, the sound soft and a little self-conscious. "Maybe. Though I don't think my clumsiness will disappear even if I get new ones."
We reached the trash bins near the edge of the schoolyard. I carefully placed the box of broken mirror pieces into the bin, making sure none of the shards spilled out. As I straightened up, I noticed Sakura watching me with a thoughtful expression.
"Thanks for helping, Hikaru-san," she said, her tone genuine.
"No problem. It's better than you cutting your hands on those shards," I replied, brushing my hands off.
"Umm, eto..." Sakura mumbled, her voice a little awkward as she nodded slightly. "Should we head back to class?"
I gave her a small smile, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere. "Yeah, let's go."
We started walking back toward the school building, the silence between us a little more noticeable than before. It wasn't uncomfortable, but there was something about the way Sakura was fidgeting that made me wonder if I had said something wrong.
"So, what are you going to do during winter break?" I asked, trying to ease the tension.
Sakura blinked, as if the question caught her off guard. She glanced up at the sky for a moment before shrugging. "I'm not sure, honestly. Probably just stay home and relax. Maybe visit my grandparents... How about you?"
I nodded, leaning slightly against the school building. "Probably sleep, but those student council members... they won't let me. They've got this special gathering planned."
"Hikaru-san... Are you really that busy? What kind of special gathering? You're going to work even during winter break?"
"It's not actually special," I explained, shaking my head. "It's just a gathering, like a hangout with friends, not really student council business. We're probably just going to walk around and play in the snow."
Sakura's eyes brightened a little at the mention of snow. "That sounds fun," she said with a small smile. "I haven't played in the snow for years. Maybe I should join you all."
I glanced over at her, surprised. "You want to hang out with the student council?"
She seemed taken aback by my response. "Well... um, would you allow me?"
I shrugged. "I mean, it's fine. Are you free?"
Sakura paused for a moment, considering my question. "Yeah, I should be free. Winter break's the only time I can really relax," she said with a small grin. "I think it'll be nice to do something... different for once."
I nodded, smiling lightly. "Then it's settled. Just let me know if you want to join. It'll be more fun with more people."
As we arrived at class, the day resumed as usual, and the rest of the school day passed by in a blur.
After school, the student council and I walked together, and as we neared the entrance, I could hear their excited chatter. They were all eager to visit my family's antique shop.
"Geez... it's cold," Riku muttered, pulling his jacket tighter around himself.
The wind bit at our skin as we walked through the school gates, heading toward the narrow alley where my family's antique shop was located. The cold air made my breath visible, misting in front of me with each exhale. Despite the chill, the group seemed in good spirits, chatting and laughing as we made our way through the quiet streets of Kamakura.
"It's really close to the school, isn't it?" Mayu remarked, glancing around. She had a thoughtful expression, as if she was taking in the whole atmosphere of the town.
"Yeah, it's not far. Just a five-minute walk," I replied, adjusting my bag on my shoulder.
As we turned onto the street where my shop was, the old wooden sign came into view. The place wasn't big, but it had a cozy, lived-in charm. The old wooden doors creaked when I pushed them open, and the familiar smell of aged wood and antiques filled the air.
"Wow, it's so... nostalgic," Aoi said, stepping inside. She looked around, her eyes wide with interest. "I didn't expect it to have this kind of atmosphere."
I chuckled softly. "My family's been running it for years. It's kind of like our second home."
Riku and Mayu wandered deeper into the store, already picking up various curiosities from the shelves. The sound of their chatter blended with the soft hum of the old store, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful.
"Ah, welcome. You must be my son's friends," came a voice from the back of the shop.
It was my father, stepping into view with a warm smile.
To Be Continue.